Everyday Wellness in Brecksville: Wild Animals are Best Left Alone

There is a squirrel who visits our back yard regularly, and we have affectionately named him Stubby. He appears to have lost the majority of his tail in some kind of wild animal mishap that I shudder to think about. One of my sons has repeatedly said that he would love to pet Stubby, and I know what he means -- the little guy looks so innocent and lovable. So I’ve been warning him about Stubby’s razor sharp teeth, parasites and contagious diseases.

A quick search of the term “wild animals” on the website for the Ohio Department of Health will scare the living daylights out of you with words like rabies, tularemia and plague showing up in the results. 

But the Ohio Department of Natural Resources has some recommendations to help keep wild animals away from your home. Some of the suggestions on the department's website include bringing pet food inside, tightly covering trash containers and making sure your chimney is capped.

Cliffette Thacker is the animal warden for the city of Brecksville. I spoke with her recently, and she advised staying away from wildlife, especially anything with babies. She said that even deer will attack you if they feel you’re going to harm their offspring. She also said that fall is their mating season, and the males can become aggressive if they feel threatened. She warned that deer have been known to charge at people and that “their hooves are like knives.” So it’s best to leave them alone.

Thacker also said that overhanging branches invite animals like raccoons to break into your house through your attic or chimney. She also said that people should be aware that if they are feeding birds, they will attract deer, squirrels, skunks, raccoons and coyotes, as well. 

The Cleveland Metroparks has some information on coyotes on its website, including what to do if you encounter one. 

If you need to contact Brecksville's animal warden, you can call the non-emergency number. The department of animal control has some useful information about wild animals on their website, as well.

I guess it's time to put the bird feeder away for awhile. Poor Stubby will be sad to see it go. But not as sad as my son will be.